Abstract

Background

Injection drug use (IDU) is one of the major modes of HIV transmission in China. Drug
use is illegal in China, all identified drug users are registered by Public Security
Bureau, and most were sent to detention; most detainees engaged in high risk behaviours.
In order to well understand the HIV/AIDS knowledge among detainees, a survey was conducted
in different detention settings in Hunan province in 2008 to assess knowledge and
attitudes about HIV among detainees and to provide useful information for HIV prevention
and intervention strategies in detention centers.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 10 detentions in Hunan province, China,
and demographic information along with knowledge and attitude of HIV/AIDS was collected
through standardized interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to describe HIV
knowledge, attitudes, and education services among detainees.

Results

There were 956 detainees interviewed from 10 detention centers. The male to female
ratio was 2.24:1. The majority detainees received nine years of compulsory education,
accounting for 51.5%. There were nine questions to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge of detainees,
and 35.7% of those surveyed answered all nine questions correctly. There were 92.3%
(882/956) who consented to be informed about the HIV antibody test results when tested,
and 81% (774/956) elected that their family members were also informed. All detention
centers had an organized HIV/AIDS education program.

Conclusion

This study gives us an overview about HIV/AIDS knowledge in detention in Hunan province,
and all detention sites in the study provided HIV/AIDS intervention services among
detainees that focused on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitude, and health behaviors.